Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced four reviews into government policy, taking the tally of government studies announced since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister to 31.

In a speech to Parliament, Balls set out plans for inquiries into sexual education, the junior school curriculum, child mental health and special-needs education. Before today, Brown and his ministers had already established at least 27 studies into different policy areas.

Reviews were a hallmark of Brown's decade as Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he ordered long-term research into issues ranging from health to climate change. Since becoming prime minister in June, he has increased the volume of the studies, averaging more than one a week, providing ammunition to opponents who are urging him to make decisions.

``He's clearly a man who likes to think hard about things and gather the evidence but who doesn't find it that easy to make decisions,'' said Tony Travers, a professor of politics at the London School of Economics. ``Evidence-based policy-making is a good thing, but you've got to have the policy-making.''

Brown's office said in a statement the reviews covered ``issues of national importance'' and are a ``measure of the prime minister's determination.''

In response to Balls' announcement today, Liberal Democrat lawmaker David Laws described the curriculum review as ``confused and unnecessary -- it is unclear whether the government wants more focus on literacy and numeracy, or less.''

In other areas there are three reviews into data security, two of them set up after tax officials lost the private details of half the country, and two into how the Labour Party raises funds, announced after the party breached funding rules.

To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 11, 2007 12:13 EST